Google is expanding how users discover apps and games on Google Play, with a series of new features announced at I/O 2026 that lean heavily on AI and short-form video.
Discovery beyond the store
The biggest shift is Google Play’s integration with the Gemini app. In the coming weeks, Google will enable app discovery in the Gemini app on Android and the web, connecting apps and games to Gemini users.
Later this year, Gemini will also start surfacing over 450,000 movies and TV shows, as well as where to stream live sports, and deep-link users directly into app content. The move reflects how Google is positioning Gemini as a discovery layer for apps, games, and other content on Google Play.
New ways to browse on Play
Google is also introducing Play Shorts, a short-form video feed built into its app store. The full-screen, portrait video feed will give users a quick preview of the app’s look, feel, and functionality. Play Shorts is rolling out to US users and select developers, with broader market availability planned for later.
On the search side, Google is introducing Ask Play, a conversational AI overlay for finding apps. The company says Ask Play understands the full context of a user’s question and adapts to follow-ups to recommend the right app. A companion feature called Ask Play highlights will give users a high-level summary of complex searches directly on the search results page.
Google is also updating its Play Games Sidekick overlay with new social features, including the ability for players to see which friends are playing the same game and track their achievements, with a global rollout planned for this summer.
The Play updates are part of a broader push by Google to extend the store’s reach beyond its own surface, as AI assistants increasingly become where users start their searches for new apps, games, and content.
